The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LULLABYE

MERRY LITTLE GYPSIES ARE WE, WITH HEARTS SO LIGHT AND STEPS SO FREE.
WE DANCE TOGETHER HAND IN HAND, A GAY AND HAPPY LITTLE BAND. TRA LA
LA LA LA TRA LA LA LA LA TRA LA LA LA LA LA LA. OH I HAVE PRETTY
THINGS TO SELL, FOR SILVER I CAN FORTUNES TELL. I MAKE CLOTHES
PEGS AND BASKETS LARGE AND LITTLE FOR THEM ALL I CHARGE. TRA LA
LA, ETC. I'M THE QUEEN OF THE GYPSIES ALL, EACH MUST ANSWER WHEN I
CALL. I LOVE THE EARTH AND SKIES ABOVE, I RULE MY SUBJECTS ALL WITH
LOVE. TRA LA LA ETC. A FAIR LITTLE GIRL SAT UNDER A TREE, SEWING
AS LONG AS HER EYES COULD SEE. SHE SMOOTHED HER WORK AND FOLDED
IT RIGHT, AND SAID DEAR WORK, GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT. TRA LA LA, ETC.
A BIG BLACK CROW FLEW OVER HER HEAD CRYING,"CAW CAW" ON HIS WAY TO
BED. SHE SAID AS SHE WATCHED HIS CURIOUS FLIGHT,"LITTLE BLACKBIRD
GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT." TRA LA LA, ETC.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER USED TO SING THIS TO ME WHILE ROCKING ME TO SLEEP. HER
FATHER SANG IT TO HER WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Date learned: 02-00-1979